Choosing the right snowboard
Starting snowboarding can seem overwhelming with all the gear needed: boots, clothing, gloves, beanies, goggles, and a snowboard. But where to begin? This guide aims to answer your basic questions and get you ready to hit the slopes.
Right size of snowboard?
How do you know which snowboard length is right for you? It depends on your weight and the type of snowboarding you plan to do. The easiest way to pick a snowboard is to have it reach your chin; it's a good starting point. However, your skill level, weight, and the board's build are also crucial. For freeriding, a slightly longer board offers stability and speed, but for freestyle riding, smaller sizes are better for easy spins and tricks.
Remember these tips:
- Shorter boards are good for park or freestyle riding.
- Longer boards suit all-mountain, powder, or freeriding, or try a volume shifted board.
- Heavier riders might need a longer / stiffer board.
- Beginners can start with shorter boards in their size range.
- If your boot size is 11 or larger, consider getting a wide board.
- Ride less than 10 days a year? Consider getting a board a few centimetres shorter.
- Ride more than 25 days a year? Consider getting a board a few centimetres longer.
- Kids boards are tricky but shorter can be easier to learn on.
Different types of snowboard / terrain.
A All-Mountain snowboard is a versatile type of snowboard designed to perform well across various terrains and snow conditions. It's ideal for riding on groomed trails, in powder, through trees, and even in the park. This board provides a good balance between stability, maneuverability, and control, allowing riders to explore different parts of the mountain without needing multiple specialized boards.
Wired boards that fit into this category.
photo: Edwin Poulston
A Freestyle snowboard is a type of snowboard made for doing tricks and jumps in the terrain park or halfpipe. It's designed to be shorter, lighter, and more flexible than other boards, making it easier to spin, jump, and perform tricks. These boards are usually twin-shaped, meaning they have the same shape and flex from tip to tail, allowing riders to go forward or backward with ease. Freestyle boards offer more maneuverability and playfulness for those who love performing tricks and jumps on the slopes.
Wired boards that fit into this category.
A Freeride snowboard is crafted for riding in ungroomed snow or off-trail areas. These boards are designed to handle various terrains like deep snow, backcountry, or steep slopes. They're usually longer and stiffer to offer stability and control while cruising down the mountain. Freeride boards provide better floatation in powder snow and more control in challenging conditions, making them ideal for riders who enjoy exploring different terrains and riding styles.
Wired boards that fit into this category.
A Powder snowboard is made especially for deep snow conditions. These boards are wider, with a unique shape that helps riders stay afloat on powdery terrain. They're built to provide more surface area, preventing sinking in the snow and allowing for smoother turns. Powder snowboards typically have a setback stance to keep the nose higher for better maneuverability in deep snow, offering riders an exhilarating experience in fresh, fluffy powder.
Wired boards that fit into this category.
A Splitboard snowboard is designed for backcountry adventures. It can split into two separate skis, allowing snowboarders to hike up snowy slopes and then join the pieces together for the descent. This type of board enables riders to explore remote, untracked areas by climbing up mountains and riding down the backcountry terrain. It offers versatility for those who enjoy both snowboarding and skiing in less accessible, wilder environments.
Wired boards that fit into this category.
Do I need a wide snowboard?
Choosing the correct snowboard width means your boots will slightly extend beyond the edges of the board. However, too much overhang may lead to toe or heel drag and loss of control. Slight overhang will allow you to quickly transfer the power from your movements to your edges to turn your board. Somewhere between 8 and 13 mm seems to be OK. Anymore than that you start to get toe and heel drag which is not ideal and you might need a wider snowboard.
| Boot Size (US Men's) | Boot Size (US Women's) | Board Waist Width (mm) | Snowboard Width |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | Up to 6.0 | 225 - 235 | Women's |
| 5.0 - 7.5 | 6.0 - 8.5 | 236 - 245 | |
| 7.0 - 9.5 | 8.0 - 10.5 | 246 - 250 | Regular |
| 8.5 - 10.5 | 10+ | 251 - 254 | |
| 9.5 - 11.5 | - | 255 - 259 | Mid- Wide |
| 11+ | - | 262+ |
Choosing the right size of board.
Begin by locating your height in the left columns and your weight in the top row. Then, follow across from your height and down from your weight to find the recommended board size.
Youth Snowboard Size Guide
| Rider Height | Rider Weight | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| in feet | in cm | 40lbs (18kg) | 50lbs (23kg) | 60lbs (27kg) | 70lbs (32kg) | 80lbs (36kg) | 90lbs (42kg) | 100lbs (45kg) | 110lbs (50kg) | 120lbs (54kg) |
| 3'4" | 102 | 95 cm | 105 cm | 107 cm | ||||||
| 3'5" | 104 | 95 cm | 105 cm | 108 cm | ||||||
| 3'6" | 107 | 96 cm | 106 cm | 108 cm | ||||||
| 3'7" | 109 | 96 cm | 106 cm | 109 cm | ||||||
| 3'8" | 112 | 97 cm | 107 cm | 110 cm | 112 cm | |||||
| 3'9" | 114 | 97 cm | 107 cm | 110 cm | 113 cm | |||||
| 3'10" | 117 | 98 cm | 108 cm | 111 cm | 113 cm | |||||
| 3'11" | 119 | 99 cm | 109 cm | 111 cm | 114 cm | |||||
| 4'0" | 122 | 99 cm | 109 cm | 112 cm | 115 cm | |||||
| 4'1" | 124 | 117 cm | 120 cm | 123 cm | 125 cm | |||||
| 4'2" | 127 | 118 cm | 121 cm | 123 cm | 125 cm | |||||
| 4'3" | 130 | 119 cm | 121 cm | 124 cm | 126 cm | 128 cm | ||||
| 4'4" | 132 | 119 cm | 122 cm | 125 cm | 127 cm | 129 cm | ||||
| 4'5" | 135 | 120 cm | 123 cm | 125 cm | 127 cm | 129 cm | 131 cm | |||
| 4'6" | 137 | 124 cm | 126 cm | 128 cm | 130 cm | 132 cm | ||||
| 4'7" | 140 | 124 cm | 127 cm | 129 cm | 131 cm | 133 cm | 135 cm | |||
| 4'8" | 142 | 125 cm | 128 cm | 130 cm | 132 cm | 134 cm | 136 cm | |||
| 4'9" | 145 | 126 cm | 128 cm | 130 cm | 132 cm | 134 cm | 136 cm | 138 cm | ||
| 4'10" | 147 | 129 cm | 131 cm | 133 cm | 135 cm | 137 cm | 139 cm | |||
| 4'11" | 150 | 130 cm | 132 cm | 134 cm | 136 cm | 138 cm | 140 cm | |||
| 5'0" | 152 | 131 cm | 133 cm | 135 cm | 137 cm | 139 cm | 141 cm | |||
| 5'1" | 155 | 133 cm | 135 cm | 137 cm | 139 cm | 141 cm | ||||
| 5'2" | 151 | 134 cm | 136 cm | 138 cm | 140 cm | 142 cm | ||||
| 5'3" | 160 | 135 cm | 137 cm | 139 cm | 141 cm | 143 cm | ||||
| 5'4" | 163 | 138 cm | 140 cm | 142 cm | 144 cm | |||||
| 5'5" | 165 | 138 cm | 140 cm | 142 cm | 144 cm |
Women's Snowboard Size Guide
| Rider Height | Rider Weight | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| in feet | in cm | 90lbs (42kg) | 100lbs (45kg) | 110lbs (50kg) | 120lbs (54kg) | 130lbs (59kg) | 140lbs (64kg) | 150lbs (68kg) | 160lbs (73kg) | 170lbs (77kg) |
| 5'0" | 152 | 136 cm | 138 cm | 140 cm | 142 cm | 144 cm | 146 cm | 148 cm | 150 cm | 150 cm |
| 5'1" | 155 | 136 cm | 138 cm | 140 cm | 142 cm | 144 cm | 146 cm | 148 cm | 150 cm | 150 cm |
| 5'2" | 157 | 137 cm | 139 cm | 141 cm | 143 cm | 145 cm | 147 cm | 149 cm | 151 cm | 152 cm |
| 5'3" | 160 | 138 cm | 140 cm | 142 cm | 144 cm | 146 cm | 148 cm | 150 cm | 152 cm | 153 cm |
| 5'4" | 163 | 139 cm | 141 cm | 143 cm | 145 cm | 147 cm | 149 cm | 151 cm | 153 cm | 153 cm |
| 5'5" | 165 | 139 cm | 141 cm | 143 cm | 145 cm | 147 cm | 149 cm | 151 cm | 153 cm | 154 cm |
| 5'6" | 168 | 140 cm | 142 cm | 144 cm | 146 cm | 148 cm | 150 cm | 152 cm | 154 cm | 155 cm |
| 5'7" | 170 | 141 cm | 143 cm | 145 cm | 147 cm | 149 cm | 151 cm | 153 cm | 155 cm | 156 cm |
| 5'8" | 173 | 142 cm | 144 cm | 146 cm | 148 cm | 150 cm | 152 cm | 154 cm | 156 cm | 156 cm |
| 5'9" | 175 | 142 cm | 144 cm | 146 cm | 148 cm | 150 cm | 152 cm | 154 cm | 156 cm | 157 cm |
| 5'10" | 178 | 143 cm | 145 cm | 147 cm | 149 cm | 151 cm | 153 cm | 155 cm | 157 cm | 158 cm |
| 5'11" | 180 | 144 cm | 146 cm | 148 cm | 150 cm | 152 cm | 154 cm | 156 cm | 158 cm | 159 cm |
| 6'0" | 183 | 145 cm | 147 cm | 149 cm | 151 cm | 153 cm | 155 cm | 157 cm | 159 cm | 159 cm |
| 61" | 185 | 145 cm | 147 cm | 149 cm | 151 cm | 153 cm | 155 cm | 157 cm | 159 cm | 160 cm |
| 6'2" | 188 | 148 cm | 150 cm | 152 cm | 154 cm | 156 cm | 158 cm | 160 cm | 161 cm | |
| 6'3" | 191 | 151 cm | 153 cm | 155 cm | 157 cm | 159 cm | 161 cm | 162 cm | ||
| 6'4" | 193 | 154 cm | 156 cm | 158 cm | 160 cm | 162 cm | 162cm |
| Rider Height | Rider Weight | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| in feet | in cm | 180lbs (81kg) | 190lbs (86kg) | 200lbs (91kg) | 210lbs (95kg) | 220lbs (100kg) | 230lbs (104kg) | 240lbs (109kg) | 250lbs (113kg) | 260lbs (118kg) |
| 5'0" | 152 | 151 cm | 152 cm | 152 cm | 153cm | |||||
| 5'1" | 155 | 152 cm | 152 cm | 153 cm | 154 cm | |||||
| 5'2" | 157 | 153cm | 153cm | 154 cm | 155 cm | 155cm | ||||
| 5'3" | 160 | 153 cm | 154 cm | 155 cm | 155 cm | 156 cm | 157 cm | |||
| 5'4" | 163 | 154 cm | 155 cm | 155 cm | 156 cm | 157 cm | 158 cm | 158 cm | ||
| 5'5" | 165 | 155 cm | 155 cm | 156 cm | 157 cm | 157 cm | 158 cm | 159 cm | 159cm | |
| 5'6" | 168 | 156 cm | 156 cm | 157 cm | 158 cm | 158 cm | 159 cm | 160 cm | 160 cm | |
| 5'7" | 170 | 156 cm | 157 cm | 158 cm | 158 cm | 159 cm | 160 cm | 160 cm | 161 cm | 162 cm |
| 5'8" | 173 | 157 cm | 158 cm | 158 cm | 159 cm | 160 cm | 160 cm | 161 cm | 162 cm | 162 cm |
| 5'9" | 175 | 158 cm | 158 cm | 159 cm | 160 cm | 160 cm | 161 cm | 162 cm | 162 cm | 163 cm |
| 5'10" | 178 | 158 cm | 159 cm | 160 cm | 160 cm | 161 cm | 162 cm | 162 cm | 163 cm | 164 cm |
| 5'11" | 180 | 159 cm | 160 cm | 161 cm | 161 cm | 162 cm | 163 cm | 163 cm | 164 cm | 165 cm |
| 6'0" | 183 | 160 cm | 161 cm | 161 cm | 162 cm | 163 cm | 163 cm | 164 cm | 165 cm | 165 cm |
| 61" | 185 | 161 cm | 161 cm | 162 cm | 163 cm | 163 cm | 164 cm | 165 cm | 165 cm | 166 cm |
| 6'2" | 188 | 161 cm | 162 cm | 163 cm | 163 cm | 164 cm | 165 cm | 165 cm | 166 cm | 167 cm |
| 6'3" | 191 | 162 cm | 163 cm | 164 cm | 164 cm | 165 cm | 165 cm | 166 cm | 167 cm | 168 cm |
| 6'4" | 193 | 163 cm | 164 cm | 164 cm | 165 cm | 166 cm | 166 cm | 167 cm | 168 cm | 168 cm |
Men's Snowboard Size Guide
| Rider Height | Rider Weight | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| in feet | in cm | 100lbs (45kg) | 110lbs (50kg) | 120lbs (54kg) | 130lbs (59kg) | 140lbs (64kg) | 150lbs (68kg) | 160lbs (73kg) | 170lbs (77kg) | 180lbs (81kg) |
| 5'0" | 152 | 139 cm | 141 cm | 143 cm | 145 cm | 147 cm | 149 cm | 151 cm | 151 cm | 152 cm |
| 5'1" | 155 | 139 cm | 141 cm | 143 cm | 145 cm | 147 cm | 149 cm | 151 cm | 151 cm | 152 cm |
| 5'2" | 157 | 140 cm | 142 cm | 144 cm | 146 cn | 148 cm | 150 cm | 152 cm | 153 cm | 154 cm |
| 5'3" | 160 | 141 cm | 143 cm | 145 cm | 147 cm | 149 cm | 151 cm | 153 cm | 154 cm | 154 cm |
| 5'4" | 163 | 142 cm | 144 cm | 146 cm | 148 cm | 150 cm | 152 cm | 154 cm | 154 cm | 154 cm |
| 5'5" | 165 | 142 cm | 144 cm | 146 cm | 148 cm | 150 cm | 152 cm | 154 cm | 155 cm | 156 cm |
| 5'6" | 168 | 143 cm | 145 cm | 147 cm | 149 cm | 151 cm | 153 cm | 155 cm | 156 cm | 157 cm |
| 5'7" | 170 | 144 cm | 146 cm | 148 cm | 150 cm | 152 cm | 154 cm | 156 cm | 157 cm | 157 cm |
| 5'8" | 173 | 145 cm | 147 cm | 149 cm | 151 cm | 153 cm | 155 cm | 157 cm | 157 cm | 158 cm |
| 5'9" | 175 | 145 cm | 147 cm | 149 cm | 151 cm | 153 cm | 155 cm | 157 cm | 158 cm | 159 cm |
| 5'10" | 178 | 146 cm | 148 cm | 150 cm | 152 cm | 154 cm | 156 cm | 158 cm | 159 cm | 159 cm |
| 5'11" | 180 | 149 cm | 151 cm | 153 cm | 155 cm | 157 cm | 159 cm | 160 cm | 160 cm | |
| 6'0" | 183 | 152 cm | 154 cm | 156 cm | 158 cm | 160 cm | 161 cm | 162 cm | ||
| 61" | 185 | 154 cm | 156 cn | 158 cm | 160 cm | 161 cm | 162 cm | |||
| 6'2" | 188 | 157 cm | 159 cm | 161 cm | 162 cm | 162 cm | ||||
| 6'3" | 191 | 160 cm | 162 cm | 163 cm | 163 cm | |||||
| 6'4" | 193 | 163 cm | 163 cm | 164 cm |
| Rider Height | Rider Weight | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| in feet | in cm | 190lbs (86kg) | 200lbs (91kg) | 210lbs (95kg) | 220lbs (100kg) | 230lbs (104kg) | 240lbs (109kg) | 250lbs (113kg) | 260lbs (118kg) | 270lbs (122kg) |
| 5'0" | 152 | 153 cm | 153 cm | 154 cm | 155 cm | |||||
| 5'1" | 155 | 153 cm | 154 cm | 155 cm | 155 cm | |||||
| 5'2" | 157 | 154 cm | 155 cm | 156 cm | 156 cm | 157 cm | ||||
| 5'3" | 160 | 155 cm | 156 cm | 156 cm | 157 cm | 158 cm | 158 cm | |||
| 5'4" | 163 | 156 cm | 156 cm | 157 cm | 158 cm | 158 cm | 159 cm | 160 cm | ||
| 5'5" | 165 | 156 cm | 157 cm | 158 cm | 158 cm | 159 cm | 160 cm | 160 cm | 161 cm | |
| 5'6" | 168 | 157 cm | 158 cm | 159 cm | 159 cm | 160 cm | 161 cm | 161 cm | 162 cm | |
| 5'7" | 170 | 158 cm | 159 cm | 159 cm | 160 cm | 161 cm | 161 cm | 162 cm | 163 cm | 163 cm |
| 5'8" | 173 | 159 cm | 159 cm | 160 cm | 161 cm | 161 cm | 162 cm | 163 cm | 163 cm | 163 cm |
| 5'9" | 175 | 159 cm | 160 cm | 161 cm | 161 cm | 162 cm | 163 cm | 163 cm | 164 cm | 164 cm |
| 5'10" | 178 | 160 cm | 161 cm | 161 cm | 162 cm | 163 cm | 163 cm | 164 cm | 164 cm | 165 cm |
| 5'11" | 180 | 161 cm | 162 cm | 162 cm | 163 cm | 164 cm | 164 cm | 165cm | 166 cm | 166 cm |
| 6'0" | 183 | 162 cm | 162 cm | 163 cm | 164 cm | 164 cm | 165 cm | 166 cm | 166 cm | 166 cm |
| 61" | 185 | 162 cm | 163 cm | 164 cm | 164 cm | 165 cm | 166 cm | 166 cm | 167 cm | 167 cm |
| 6'2" | 188 | 163 cm | 164 cm | 164 cm | 165 cm | 166 cm | 166 cm | 167 cm | 168 cm | 168 cm |
| 6'3" | 191 | 164 cm | 165 cm | 165 cm | 166 cm | 167 cm | 167 cm | 168 cm | 169 cm | 169 cm |
| 6'4" | 193 | 165 cm | 165 cm | 166 cm | 167 cm | 167 cm | 168 cm | 169 cm | 169 cm | 169 cm |